Latest news with #Article182
Gulf Insider
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Gulf Insider
Kuwait Abolishes Law Allowing Kidnappers To Escape Punishment By Marrying Their Victims
Kuwait has approved a draft law to abolish Article 182 of the Penal Code, which previously allowed a kidnapper to escape punishment if he legally married his victim with the consent of her guardian. The decision was announced by Minister of Justice Nasser Al Sumait following the Cabinet's weekly meeting on Tuesday. He confirmed that the Cabinet had approved the draft decree-law as part of ongoing efforts to align national legislation with both Islamic Sharia principles and international human rights conventions. 'This step reflects Kuwait's commitment to strengthening the protection of rights and freedoms, and upholding the principles of human dignity,' Al Sumait stated. He cited the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women as key frameworks supporting this reform. He explained that repealing Article 182 underscores the government's determination to deter crimes of abduction and eliminate any legal justification that could allow perpetrators to evade criminal accountability. The move also helps safeguard victims from social pressure that may compromise their rights or compel them into unwanted outcomes. Al Sumait added, 'The repeal of Article 182 is part of broader legislative reforms aimed at enhancing victim protection and reinforcing the principle that crimes cannot be legitimised by violating basic human rights.' The now-repealed article previously read: 'If the kidnapper marries the person he kidnapped in a legitimate marriage with the consent of her guardian, and the guardian requests that the kidnapper not be punished, then no penalty shall be imposed.'
Gulf News
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Gulf News
Kuwait abolishes law allowing kidnappers to escape punishment by marrying their victims
Dubai: Kuwait has approved a draft law to abolish Article 182 of the Penal Code, which previously allowed a kidnapper to escape punishment if he legally married his victim with the consent of her guardian. The decision was announced by Minister of Justice Nasser Al Sumait following the Cabinet's weekly meeting on Tuesday. He confirmed that the Cabinet had approved the draft decree-law as part of ongoing efforts to align national legislation with both Islamic Sharia principles and international human rights conventions. 'This step reflects Kuwait's commitment to strengthening the protection of rights and freedoms, and upholding the principles of human dignity,' Al Sumait stated. He cited the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women as key frameworks supporting this reform. He explained that repealing Article 182 underscores the government's determination to deter crimes of abduction and eliminate any legal justification that could allow perpetrators to evade criminal accountability. The move also helps safeguard victims from social pressure that may compromise their rights or compel them into unwanted outcomes. Al Sumait added, 'The repeal of Article 182 is part of broader legislative reforms aimed at enhancing victim protection and reinforcing the principle that crimes cannot be legitimised by violating basic human rights.'
The Independent
10-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Jean-Claude Van Damme denies ‘grotesque' claim he knowingly had sex with five trafficked women
Jean-Claude Van Damme has denied accusations he knowingly engaged in sexual relations with women trafficked by a criminal group. The action film star, whose credits include Street Fighter and Bloodsport, has spoken out after reportedly finding himself the subject of criminal charges in Romania over the claims. Last week, it was alleged that Van Damme received five Romanian women as a 'gift' from a group of traffickers while in Cannes, France – but the actor's agent has hit back at the 'unfounded' claims. 'We have become aware of articles alleging an alleged affair in Cannes involving Mr Jean-Claude Van Damme,' Patrick Goavec said in a statement. He told People: 'The reported facts are both grotesque and non-existent. Mr Van Damme does not wish to comment or fuel this rumour, which is as absurd as it is unfounded.' The news originally surfaced after a report by the local CNN affiliate Antena 3, who alleged that a criminal complaint had been filed with the Romanian Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT). According to the outlet, DIICOT launched their investigation after a woman allegedly witnessed the incident at an event organised by Van Damme and shared what she claimed she had seen with prosecutors. Antena 3 quotesattorney Adrian Cuculis, who is representing one of the alleged victims, as saying that 'several Romanians who are currently being investigated for forming a criminal group and pimping, allegedly offered Jean-Claude Van Damme five Romanian women – photo models in Romania – for him to have sexual relations with'. Cuculis added that 'the person who received those benefits knew their condition,' and that the women 'were in a state of vulnerability, with the suspicion that they were exploited within the meaning of Article 182 of the Criminal Code'. Antena 3 was also told the alleged incident is part of a larger investigation by the Romanian Prosecutor's Office into human trafficking, and the trafficking of minors, that has been carried out since 2020. Former bodybuilder Van Damme made his big break into action films in the 1980s, and led cult martial arts film Bloodsport in 1988. His other credits include Kickboxer, Double Impact, Universal Soldier, Timecop Street Fighter, and Sudden Death. More recently, he has played a villainous role in The Expendables 2 and provided voice work for the 2022 family film Minions: The Rise of Gru. In 2021, a director for the sitcom Friends said Van Damme was 'unprepared and arrogant' during his guest appearance on the show. He starred as himself in the second season episode 'The One After the Super Bowl,' in which he was romantically pursued by both Monica (Courteney Cox) and Rachel (Jennifer Aniston). While he hasn't responded to director Michael Lembeck's comments, Van Damme told the New York Post in 2023 that he was 'ashamed' of his acting in the episode. 'My acting is so bad.... I'm ashamed of myself,' said Van Damme. 'So then I was on the set, and those girls, they go and they kiss me and they kiss me on the lips. I didn't know what to do, how to do … It was strange. They were very nice.' He added he knew little about the hit sitcom, saying: 'I didn't know much about the show. So when I go to the show, I see those two beautiful girls and they say this is the hottest show right now in the world. So I was very glad.' Van Damme has been married five times – twice to female bodybuilder Gladys Portugues in 1987 and, after divorcing in 1992, again in 1999. They are still together now. The actor has three children.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jean-Claude Van Damme Sex Trafficking Allegations Are 'Absurd' and 'Unfounded,' Says Actor's Agent
Jean-Claude Van Damme's agent is speaking out about criminal charges filed against the actor. "We have become aware of articles alleging an alleged affair in Cannes involving Mr. Jean-Claude Van Damme. The reported facts are both grotesque and non-existent," the actor's agent, Patrick Goavec, told PEOPLE in a statement translated from French on Wednesday, April 9. "Mr. Van Damme does not wish to comment or fuel this rumor, which is as absurd as it is unfounded," the statement added. A criminal complaint was filed with the Romanian Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) against the Streetfighter star, 64, alleging that he knowingly engaged in sexual relations with women trafficked by a criminal group led by Morel Bolea, according to CNN affiliate Antena 3. The incident allegedly took place during an event organized by Van Damme in Cannes, where the actor is accused of having received five Romanian women as a "gift" with prior knowledge that they came from a group of traffickers, according to the criminal complaint obtained by the outlet. Attorney Adrian Cuculis, who represents one of the victims, told the outlet that the women "were in a state of vulnerability, with the suspicion that they were exploited within the meaning of Article 182 of the Criminal Code." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. One woman who claimed see witnessed the incident shared what she allegedly saw with prosecutors, according to Antenna 3 CNN. This prompted the DIICOT to open a criminal investigation into the incident. 'Several Romanians who are currently being investigated for forming a criminal group and pimping, allegedly offered Jean-Claude Van Damme five Romanian women — photo models in Romania — for him to have sexual relations with. The person who received those benefits knew their condition,' attorney Adrian Cuculis told the outlet in a translated post. Cuculis told Antena 3 that the incident is part of a larger investigation into human trafficking and the trafficking of minors that began in 2020 by the Prosecutor's Office in Romania. The next step in the case would be the High Court of Cassation in France authorizing criminal proceedings. Then, suspects identified in the case will be summoned to Romania to give statements, Antena 3 Damme, who was born in Belgium, made his breakout with 1988's Bloodsport and went on to star in several action films including Kickboxer, Double Impact and The Expendables 2. He most recently appeared as a voice actor in 2022's Minions: Rise of Gru and 2025's The Gardener. Read the original article on People
The Independent
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Jean-Claude Van Damme accused of knowingly having sexual relations with 5 trafficked Romanian women
Jean-Claude Van Damme is reportedly the subject of criminal charges in Romania over allegations that he knowingly engaged in sexual relations with women trafficked by a criminal group. The 64-year-old action star, known for his performances in Street Fighter and Double Impact, is accused of receiving five Romanian women as a 'gift' from a group of traffickers while in Cannes, France. According to a report by the local CNN affiliate Antena 3, a criminal complaint has been filed with the Romanian Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT). The Independent has approached Van Damme's representatives and DIICOT for comment. DIICOT launched their investigation after a woman allegedly witnessed the incident at an event organized by Van Damme in Cannes and shared what she had seen with prosecutors, according to the outlet. Antena 3 quotes attorney Adrian Cuculis, who is representing one of the victims, as saying that 'several Romanians who are currently being investigated for forming a criminal group and pimping, allegedly offered Jean-Claude Van Damme five Romanian women — photo models in Romania — for him to have sexual relations with.' Cuculis added that 'the person who received those benefits knew their condition,' and that the women "were in a state of vulnerability, with the suspicion that they were exploited within the meaning of Article 182 of the Criminal Code." Cuculis told Antena 3 that the incident is part of a larger investigation into human trafficking and the trafficking of minors that has been carried out since 2020 by the Romanian Prosecutor's Office. The outlet also reports that as the incident occurred in Cannes, France's High Court of Cassation will have to authorize criminal proceedings before the suspects identified in the case can be summoned to Romania to give statements. In the late 1980s and 1990s, he appeared in a string of hits, including Kickboxer, Double Impact, Universal Soldier, Timecop, Street Fighter, and Sudden Death. His more recent roles include playing the villain in The Expendables 2 in 2012 and providing voice work for the 2022 family film Minions: The Rise of Gru. He starred as himself in the second season episode 'The One After the Super Bowl,' in which he was romantically pursued by both Monica (Courteney Cox) and Rachel (Jennifer Aniston).
